It has been possible to induce many varieties of rhododendrons in 6" pots to form flower buds in one growing season using growth retardants; (1, 3, 4) Cycocel (2-chloroethyl-trimethyl ammonium chloride) and Phosphon (Tributyl-2, 4-dichlorobenel phosphonium chloride) applied as soil drenches were most effective. Besides inducing flower buds, Cycocel and Phosphon reduced the elongation of shoots that developed following application.
To determine if this growth inhibition persisted in subsequent years, four plants which had been treated with Cycocel (200 ml. of 4000 ppm solution per pot) and four plants treated with Phosphon (0.4 gram in 200 ml. of water per pot) in April 1972 were planted in nursery rows in May 1973. These plants had been forced into bloom in the greenhouse in February and March 1973. Only two control plants which had also been forced into bloom were planted since untreated plants with flower buds were in short supply.
Measurements of the plants were taken in December 1975 after three growing seasons in the field. These measurements are shown in table 1:

Table 1. Average height (H) and width (W) in inches, number of vegetative
(V) and flower (F) buds of several rhododendron cultivars after 3 growing
seasons following growth retardant treatment the previous year.

Cultivar

Treatment

H

W

V

F

'Blue Ensign'

Check

21.0

28.5

23.5

11.0

Cycocela

17.0

25.0

4.0

22.0

Phosphonb

16.3

25.0

19.7

9.3

'John Walters'

Check

21.0

30.0

11.0

15.0

Cycocel

17.5

27.8

28.5

5.8

Phosphon

10.8

21.3

15.5

13.3

'Kluis Sensation'

Check

26.5

30.3

34.5

6.5

Cycocel

19.9

30.1

18.0

15.0

Phosphon

13.1

25.0

10.3

18.0

'Madame de Bruin'

Check

21.0

24.0

3.0

10.0

Cycocel

21.0

24.5

3.0

15.5

Phosphon

13.3

19.7

7.7

10.0

'Nova Zembla'

Check

24.0

28.5

18.5

11.5

Cycocel

15.3

28.3

11.0

16.7

Phosphon

15.0

21.5

7.5

17.5

'Purple Splendour'

Check

19.5

32.5

1.0

34.5

Cycocel

20.3

26.5

3.3

32.5

Phosphon

15.5

24.0

1.0

32.0

'Roseum Elegans'

Check

27.0

32.0

23.0

34.0

Cycocel

22.8

31.0

28.0

26.3

Phosphon

13.5

24.0

20.0

19.0

'Sappho'

Check

27.5

30.5

16.5

6.5

Cycocel

26.0

32.0

8.0

20.5

Phosphon

18.5

24.5

9.5

19.0

'Thor'

Check

16.5

26.0

16.5

23.5

Cycocel

17.5

28.0

9.0

41.5

Phosphon

8.7

15.7

5.3

28.0

'Unique'

Check

15.0

25.0

53.5

11.5

Cycocel

12.0

14.5

20.0

2.0

Phosphon

11.0

15.5

22.5

4.5

a Cycocel - 200 ml. of 40000ppm / 6" pot

b Phosphon - 0.4 grams in 200 ml. water/6" pot

Results and Discussion
Plants treated with Phosphon were markedly smaller after three growing seasons in the field. The residual effect of Cycocel on plant size was not as great as Phosphon. After this trial was started, Dr. Philip Kozel of Ohio State University (2) stated that he had observed persistent effects of Phosphon on rhododendron growth.
Whether this growth reduction is considered desirable would probably depend on the cultivar treated and the use made of the plant. In the case of a leggy-grower such as 'Sappho', some retardation produces a more attractive plant. Compact cultivars like 'Thor' and "Unique" normally produce relatively short growths and plant appearance isn't improved by shortening these growths further. Plants where growth needs to be restrained, such as in containers, under windows, or other restricted areas, might be benefited by the application of a growth retardant.
The long term effects of Cycocel and Phosphon on flowering, varied with cultivar and treatment. Cultivars showing a positive flowering response (an average gain of 5 or more blooms per plant) to Cycocel compared to the control were 'Blue Ensign', 'Kluis Sensation', 'Madame De Bruin', 'Nova Zembla', 'Sappho' and 'Thor'. Cultivars showing a negative flowering response (an average loss of 5 or more blooms per plant) were 'John Walters', 'Roseum Elegans', and 'Unique". 'Kluis Sensation', 'Nova Zembla', and 'Sappho' had a positive flowering response to Phospon. A negative flowering response to Phosphon was shown by 'Roseum Elegans' and 'Unique'.
Growth retardants are useful tools for inducing flowering in one growing season from a rooted cutting on many varieties of rhododendrons. The resulting small plant can make a very attractive pot plant. Residual effects of growth retardants will have to be considered and approval by the E. P. A. will be needed before this method of producing small budded plants can be used commercially.